#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Monarch in the Butterfly Weed

It’s fall-summer this week. Another day to be outdoors as much as possible. So, when I had a phone call to discuss with the Exec. Director of The Transformative Language Arts Network about my upcoming Monologue Showcase for the Power of Words conference, I took it the call in the yard, barefoot in the still-green grass. She said she was outdoors too! The butterfly bush is back in full bloom, I noticed, standing near it. And then, there was the monarch enjoying it too. And, just beside this scene, the transplanted milkweed has come all undone, has spilled its seeds out from the fat pods onto the ground. All this I took in while planning the event. I’m excited to be producing this, working with the writers in the monologue course. It was a busy day, in a pleasant way, working with clients on monologues, mostly. And reading my poetry collection contract and realizing my pub date is Jan. 2023, not October 2022, which is fine too. Frank home in the afternoon––and his father made it! Third try, success! We went into Arlington, all of us, my daughters and went out for salad and pizza, ate outdoors, very festive and fun on a quite warm October eve. Eve of a special one’s entrance into the world. Oh, yes, I know exactly where I was and what I was doing one year ago tonight as my daughter went into labor. The anxious ride into Boston in the dark night on wet streets. The masks and protocols of birthing in a pandemic. How fortunate I was to be the one let into the birthing room beside her.